Last Thursdays Lunch and Learn debuted the newest rock band at West: Teddyhead. Their performance consisted of several popular songs from bands like The Front Bottoms, Nirvana, and Green Day. The performance was compelling, interesting, and performed by an incredibly skilled band. The members, Lex Lande (singer, guitar), Griffin Viera (singing, guitar, drum kit), Stefano Braffa (drum kit, singing), Colin Roche (guitar, singing), Lily Lederman (guitar, bass) and Jasper Sorenson (electric guitar). While most of the rock bands stuck to traditional roles of only one or two instruments, Teddyhead switched things up. Members had at least one alternative instrument from their most focused one. Mrs. Tosti, the director of the band thoroughly enjoyed working with and watching the band. “I think they did a phenomenal job. I’m especially proud of members switching their instruments around because of other members getting sick. More than that they did a really good job jelling- they were such a cohesive group both socially and musically and it showed up in their performance”.
Drummer Braffa and bassist Roche took the role of singing in Teenage Dirtbag (Wheatus) while Viera played the drum kit, all executing the song masterfully. “It was fun having to figure the songs out myself in order to help teach Griffin and demonstrate how the song would go, as well as helping him when we did our run throughs and cue him for certain parts. Overall, I think we performed super well and I am very proud of Griffin playing drums for the first time in a show.” Says Braffa. Lande took on the role of guitarist in the same song while Lederman played bass. Viera also took on the role of playing and singing for Lithium (Nirvana), while Lederman switched from bass to acoustic guitar and back again. The lineup of songs branched out with genres of classic, 2000s, Midwest, and folk rock included. “It Ain’t Me Babe” (Bob Dylan) and “500 Miles” (The Proclaimers) diversified the roster, showing range not only in taste, but in talent.
On Friday, the band also performed at Lenape Park in Perkasie alongside other high school bands, receiving an uproar of applause after performing.
